Improvement in thread-controllers for sewing-machines



W. l. STETSON.

Thread-Controllers for Sewing-Machines.

Patented March 17. 1874.

z iw UNITED STATES PATENT FFICE.

WARREN I. STETSON, OF BERLIN, MASSACHUSETTS.

lMPROVE-MENT IN THREAD-CONTROLLERS FOR SEWING-MACHINES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 148,773, dated March17, 1874; application filed February 10, 1874.

To all whoin it may concern:

Be it known that I, WARREN I. STETSON, of Berlin, in the coimty ofWorcester, State of Massachusetts, have invented a certain new anduseful Improvement in Thread- Gontrolling Mechanism for Sewing-Machines,of which'the following is a description sufficiently full, clear, andexact, to enable any person skilled in the art or science to which myinvention appertains to make and use the same, reference being had tothe accompanying drawing forming a part of this specification, in whichFigure 1 is a sectional side elevation of a machine provided with myimprovement. Fig. 2 is a view of the tension mechanism, with thetension-wheel removed.

Like letters refer to like figures in the dif ferent parts of thedrawing.

My invention relates more especially to that class of sewing-machines inwhich the upper or needle-thread is saturated with tar or some similarliquid; and consists in a device by which the thread is drawn throughthe clearer independent of the needle, in combination with adjustablethreadguides and a ratchettension mechanism, as hereinafter more fullyset forth; the object being to thoroughly and perfectly cleanse andprepare the thread for the work, without producing an undue strain uponthe needle, or breaking the thread.

All practical operators on machines of this character are well awarethat it is very difficult to cleanse the thread properly after it passesthrough the tar without subjecting it to more friction than the needlecan overcome, and that when the thread is not properly cleansed thetension-wheel and thread-controllcrs will become clogged, causing themachine to operate impcrfectly-difficulties which are obviated by myinvention.

In Fig. 1, A is the arm or goose-neck of the machine; B, thetension-wheel; a, the

lifter P, the lifter-rod; D, the clearer; E E,-

thread eyes or guides F, the adjustable guideplate; and G, the screw forattaching the plate to the arm. The tension mechanism andthread-controller are disposed on the plate M,-

which is attached to the arm of the machine, and, except the wheel B,are better seen in Fi 2, in which. A. is the ratchet-wheel H, the

ratchet click or pawl; B, the pawlspring; Q, the thread-controller ortake up, which is pivoted at m and provided with apertures L N, and thespring 0. The ratchet A is so con nected with the wheel B as to preventsaid wheel from being turned to the right, or in the direction of thelifter 0. The clearer D consists of two rubber disks, between which thethread passes on its way from the tarfountain J to the wheel B, therequisite press ure on the thread being obtained by the screw to. Thelifter-rod P is actuated by the rocking lever V, connected throughproper mechanism to the lower or driving-shaft of the machine.

From the foregoing the nature and operation of my invention will bereadily understood by all conversant with such matters.

' The thread to be used is taken from the spool or bobbin on which it iswound, and, after passing through the tar in the receptacle J, iscarried between the disks D, through the eyes E and E and guide L,around the tension-wheel B, through the guides L N, and thence to theneedle.

The mechanism operating the lifter-rod P is so timed or arranged as togive the rod an upward movement prior to the descent of the needle,causing the lifter c to come into contact with the needle-thread O, anddraw a suf ficient quantity of the same through the clearer D to form astitch.

It will be seen that the thread, bybein g carried around the wheel B,and said wheel pre vented from turning toward the lifter c by means ofthe ratchet A, will be drawn, by the action of the lifter, through theclearer, but not from the wheel, so that when the lifter descends thethread between the clearer and the tension-wheel will be slack, thusgreatly relieving the needle.

The upper section of the lifter c is formed with a smooth convexsurface, as shown, to admit of the thread drawing readily across thesame during the upward stroke of the rod P. The plate F, on which theeyes or guides E E are disposed, is vertically adjustable on the arm Aby means of the screw G, the quantity of thread drawn throughthe-clearer D by the lifter c at a single stroke being determined by theposition of said eyes in relation to the lifter the lower the eyes areplaced the larger the quantity of thread which will be drawn through theclearer, and vice verse.

I have found an adjustable plate provided with eyes or guides, asdescribed, more con venient and sure, as well as less expensive, than anadjusting mechanism connected to the rocking shaft V, which wouldaccomplish similar results.

I am aware that a device has heretofore been used in sewing-machines.for drawing the thread from the spool intermittingly, or one stitch ata time, in advance of its use by the needle, and therefore do not claimsuch a device broadly, or when in and of itself considered; neither do Iclaim the clearer D or tension B when in and of themselves considered;

but

WVhat I claim is- The ratchet-tension mechanism B, lifter c, andadjustable plate F provided with the eyes E E combined to operatesubstantially as and for the purpose specified.

VARREN I. STETSON. Vitnesses:

JOHN F. BENNETT, P. B. SoUTHWIcK.

